Stuart's Milk Snake

Stuart's Milk Snake

Geographical Range

Honduras to Costa Rica (in Central America)

Habitat

Tropical forests and coastal plains

Scientific Name

Lampropeltis triangulum stuarti

Conservation Status

Not listed by IUCN

Milk snakes are a colorful group of snakes, usually featuring vivid bands of reds, blacks and yellows that encircle their body. The beautiful Stuart’s milk snake -- a subspecies -- sports a black snout, with a narrow white V-shaped band.

The banding pattern is thought to play a role in camouflage, helping hide the snake from both predators and prey. As the animal moves along, its rapidly moving bands of color confuse the onlooker, making it difficult to determine where the snake starts and stops. (Their banding pattern also makes them easy to mistake for the venomous coral snakes.)

Milk snakes got their name from the mistaken belief that they suck milk from cows, since they are often found in and around cattle barns. In fact, they often prey on the rodents that infest barns and ranches.